Zurich at a Glance
Living in Zurich
iStockphotoLeisure tip for Zurich: the Swiss Alps are close enough for a daytrip to the mountains!
Living in Zurich: The Good Life!
Expatriates moving to Switzerland’s most populous city can look forward to the excellent quality of living in Zurich. In the Mercer Quality of Life Survey, the city ranked second out of 200 expat hotspots for the last three years. Before 2009, Zurich even used to be the destination with the best quality of life worldwide.
The high rankings for expat living in Zurich are due to several factors. We have already mentioned some in our guide on moving to Zurich: picturesque scenery, an overall lack of pollution (despite a great degree of urbanization), and personal safety. In addition to these benefits of living in Zurich, the residents of both city and canton profit from other advantages. Life in Zurich provides countless leisure activities, good transport infrastructure, top-notch medical facilities, and schools for expat kids living in Zurich.
Life in Zurich: Leisure Activities
When it comes to making the most out of your spare time, life in Zurich has something in store for everyone. Local events such as the Sächsilüüte (a spring festival), the Knabenschiessen (a shooting competition and fun fair), and the tri-annual Zürigfescht combine the touristy and the traditional. Once you’ve dealt with the practical issues of living in Zurich, take some time for sight-seeing: stroll along the lake promenade, sip a cup of hot chocolate at the Confiserie Sprüngli, or admire the panoramic view from the nearby Uetliberg.
Living in Zurich suits culture vultures, party animals, fashionistas, and hobby athletes alike. The city features 50 museums and galleries, from exhibitions on Swiss national history to cutting-edge design. With numerous concerts, movie nights, and theater performances, the summer open-air season is a highlight of living in Zurich. Of course, venues like the Zurich Opera House or the Zurich Playhouse offer high-brow entertainment for those living in Zurich all year long. If you have some energy left after power-shopping in Bahnhofsstrasse or exploring Zurich’s club scene, the Alps are only a stone’s throw away: hiking trails and ski resorts provide fun for outdoor enthusiasts.
The Zurich Tourist Service at the central station or the City of Zurich (cultural office and office for sports and education) can advise you with further details on living in Zurich.
Living in Zurich: An International Transport Hub
Organizing your daily schedule for living in Zurich is made easier by Zurich’s well-developed transport infrastructure. Overseas expats planning on living in Zurich arrive via the International Aiport Zürich-Kloten. The headquarters of the flag carrier Swiss Air serves 78 national and international airlines. From here, you can easily reach Zurich by train, or take one of the 13 regional bus lines to the countryside. There are also taxi ranks outside Terminal 1 and 2, but a ride to the city center is rather expensive (ca. CHF 60).
Expatriates from continental Europe often start their life in Zurich by arriving in the center of town, at the central station. Zurich has various international train connections to Austria, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Southeast Europe. Moreover, the central station is an important stop for local commuter trains.
Life in Zurich: Local Transport
Zurich’s public transport network (the ZVV) includes suburban trains (S-Bahn), buses, especially in rural areas, and trams in Zurich City. If you intend to frequently use public transportation while living in Zurich, purchase a personalized monthly ticket. For daily passengers, this is the cheapest option and the easiest way of navigating various fare zones. Also, if you possess such a personalized ticket, you don’t have to worry about forgetting to validate your ticket. Otherwise, you may have to pay a fine of CHF 80 on the spot!
Taxis, however, are the costliest way of getting around while living in Zurich. There are various taxi companies, all equally expensive. But if it’s late at night or you’re in a hurry, you might remember how to contact Taxi 444 (0 444 444 444).
Living in Zurich: Driving Permits
If you prefer to drive your own car when living in Zurich, you need to exchange your foreign driver’s license for a Swiss permit within one year.
- Fill out an application form and attach a passport photo.
- Do a vision test.
- Bring along the form, the test results, your alien ID and residence certificate to the Strassenverkehrsamt Zürich.
- If your foreign license was issued in one of these countries, you’ll simply get the Swiss permit via mail: Andorra, Australia, Canada, Croatia, EU/EFTA member states, Iceland, Japan, South Korea, Morocco, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino, Singapore, Taiwan, Tunisia, the US.
- Residents from other countries need to pass a practical road test within three months.
Expats living in Zurich can read more about cars and driving in our guide on driving in Switzerland.
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